Brentford look to avoid a shock cupset as Thomas Frank’s Bees host League Two’s Gillingham at Gtech Community Stadium.
Victory would see Thomas Frank’s Bees advance beyond this stage for a third consecutive season, whilst Gillingham are looking to reach the Fourth Round for the first time since 1996-97 season.
Team News
Ivan Toney is available for selection for Brentford after he missed their 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday due to suspension.
Christian Norgaard (Achilles) is a doubt but Thomas Stakosha, Aaron Hickey (both ankle), Kristoffer Ajer, Charlie Goode (both knee) and Pontus Jansson (hamstring) remain absent.
Gillingham could be without Olly Lee and Stuart O’Keefe due to muscle injuries.
Ben Reeves (unspecified) and Shaun Williams (hamstring) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- This is Brentford’s first ever League Cup tie against Gillingham.
- Brentford are unbeaten in their last six meetings against Gillingham which all came in EFL (W3, D3).
- Gillingham are visiting Gtech Community Stadium for the first time but have scored in four of their last five away visits to Brentford (D3, L2), except for 4-0 defeat in February 2010.
- Brentford are unbeaten in their last five League Cup ties against lower-league opposition (W4, D1).
- Gillingham have won two of their last five League Cup meetings against Premier League opposition (W2, L3).
Prediction
With a difficult league trip to Manchester City to come on Saturday, it will be interesting to see how Brentford approach this match because Thomas Frank will likely ring the changes, yet his regulars will want to produce a reaction to Saturday’s late conceded equalising goal at Forest.
Gillingham meanwhile aren’t having a great season with just one away win in all competitions, which however came in the First Round of this competition so will offer some hope of springing a shock especially after conceding late on at AFC Fylde in the FA Cup on Saturday.
I though feel like Gillingham are going to have to be at their absolute best and make no mistakes, otherwise this will be an one-sided contest of which I can see the Bees comfortably winning because their quality should overwhelm the Gills quite easily in the end.
Prediction: Brentford 3-0 Gillingham.
Result: Brentford 1-1 Gillingham (Gillingham win 6-5 on penalties!!)